A/N: The title has been changed, as you have noticed. The previous one was more of a working title, hence the change.
A massive thank you to GRemy, GottaluvNaley, Jessica, Steph Berg, Dreyyyand the guest reviewers for the reviews. Thank you to the followers and those who've favourited this story too. :) You're amazing!
Apologies in advance, I'm not particularly happy with this chapter. It's kind of a filler one, but the upcoming chapters will definitely have more Naley in them.
So, without further ado, read on!
CHAPTER TWO
"You seem awfully quiet today." Lucas Scott leaned against his locker and eyed his best friend with a worried expression. He paused before continuing. "Is it them, again?"
Haley grabbed her AP Calculus book from her locker, sighing softly. The way he said again perturbed her, and yet she felt that he had a right to use that term. She faced him with a wry smile. "I should've gotten used it to by now, right?"
"Haley…" He trailed off. Frankly, he didn't know what to say. For the past four years, the routine had remained steadfast – promises, broken promises, apologies, tears, more promises. The unending cycle had bothered him before, and he figured that that wasn't going to change any time soon.
"It's okay, Luke. I don't…you don't have to worry. I'll be fine." She managed to smile, trying to ease away the tension and worry on his face. "You don't have to worry." She repeated.
"I'll stop worrying the day you start making a proper free throw." He chuckled at her indignant expression. He knew that dwelling on it on such a public forum wouldn't be effective. Not when their discussion was privy to the gossip-crazed teens around them. He'd talk to her about it when they were alone.
"Laugh it off, Luke. But just to remind you, I can totally kick your ass at mini-golf." She playfully whacked his arm. She understood what he was trying to do. With all those years of having him as her best friend, Haley silently thanked Lucas for understanding her completely.
"Speaking of the weird fascination with shooting orange balls through a net, do you have practice after school today?"
He laughed. "Not today. Why?"
"Oh. I have to be in the Tutor Centre today after school, to meet a new student. I thought we could leave together."
"I could pick you up later."
She shook her head. "Never mind, I'll catch a bus. It might take me some time to finish up, anyway. "
Lucas nodded. "Okay."
She glanced around in silence when their conversation reached a comfortable pause. Despite her mind's better intentions, she thought about the conversation she shared with her parents the night before. They were supposed to be home this weekend – a get-together that was well-deserved after eleven long months. She was excited to meet them. Two-minute long phone conversations could only cover so much of her need for her parents. However, the previous night's conversation dampened their relations furthermore – from her side, at least. They couldn't make it. Surprise, surprise.
"How's practice now-a-days?" She asked. An abrupt change in topics was absolutely essential.
He smiled a little. "Great, surprisingly. Nathan has been passing the ball more often. Even the team has stopped pulling off pranks on me."
She smiled back widely. "I'm glad, Luke."
She was glad. If anyone deserved a chance at happiness, a chance at shining on their own merit, a chance at escaping the past – it was Lucas Scott. The Dan Scott debacle had created many a hardship in his life. Perhaps this time, things would be different for him.
"There's another thing, Haley. I actually asked Brooke out." Lucas admitted.
"About time."
"You're not surprised?"
Haley smiled knowingly. "I can't say this was unexpected, Luke. You've had your eyes set on her since freshman year."
He let out a shy laugh. "I thought that maybe with me joining the basketball team, she'd finally notice me."
"Her naked-in-the-backseat-of-your-car incident certainly proved that she did more than just notice you."
He chuckled, attempting to cover up the blush on his cheeks at the thought of a half-naked Brooke Davis.
"What did she say?"
"Well, she smiled and pretty much hinted that I'll have my answer by the end of the last class."
After she asks Nathan – the knowing thought crossed their minds.
"You think it'll be weird for him?" Lucas hesitantly asked.
"Maybe. But he shouldn't be the one to dictate over her life. Don't' worry, Lucas. You, my friend, will be fretting over the preparations for the perfect date as early as today evening." She laughed.
"I hope you're right."
The bell rang, immediately creating a chattering scurry in the hallway. The two friends waved at each other before heading towards their respective classes.
Away from the company of her best friend's love dilemma, those painful thoughts crept up Haley's mind once again, as she approached her Calculus class.
Calculus doesn't disappoint, she reassured herself as she entered her first class of the day.
"Boytoy!"
Nathan Scott turned just in time to embrace a dimpled brunette who rushed into his arms. She pushed off him when she noticed the sweat on him.
"You're disgusting." She mock-dusted herself, the smile never leaving her face.
She was vaguely aware of the occupants of the school basketball court staring at them. She could care less, though.
Over the years, both Brooke Davis and her best friend received a fair share of stares thrown in their way, eventually growing immune to them. Owing to the fact that their parents had shared several elite business dinners, the two had bonded from the young age of five. Sharing the same classes since kindergarten, both of them had grown elaborately close to each other, to the extent that others often mistook them as a couple. However, a failed relationship during their freshman year made them realize that their friendship was better off without any romantic liaisons. Granted they did have their string of meaningless sex, but Brooke and Nathan lived off better as friends. Best friends.
"You're disgusting," he repeated, poking out his tongue at her.
She returned the same. "Great comeback, Nathan."
"Ha-ha." He deadpanned. "So, is there a reason behind the sudden outburst of emotions, or did you just feel like embracing my sexy body?" He smirked at her disgusted expression.
"I'm going to ignore your obvious signal for inflating your ego and actually come to the topic I wanted to talk to you about."
"I'm listening."
Twirling slightly, Brooke took a deep breath. "It's about Lucas. He asked me out."
Shock stretched across Nathan's face, removing their previous mood of playfulness. "He asked you out?"
"Nathan, I like him. I really do. I know that the relation between the two of you isn't exactly ideal, but for once I want to actually know him instead of…you know?" She didn't have to say the rest – he knew her too well for that.
She waited for a minute, but spoke up when Nathan glanced at his shoes instead of speaking. With a soft sigh, she proceeded. "I won't if it's weird for you, though."
Her statement piqued Nathan's interest as he finally glanced up at her. "Brooke, you don't have to do that. Yes, we don't really mesh well – hell, we don't mesh at all. But if you like him, I'm not going to be the one to stop you from going after what you want, Brooke. I love you too much to let some family drama come in the way of what you want. We've got enough family drama that fucks us up anyway."
She smiled at the last line, prompting him to break out in a chuckle as well. His dominating father and alcoholic mother served him his share of family fuck-ups, while her absentee parents gave Brooke her share. Eventually, the two had managed to indulge in an occasional jibe at their family-induced complications.
"You sure?" she asked softly.
He nodded, the sight of her overjoyed face pleasing him.
Without thinking of his sweaty condition, she hugged him again. "Thank you, Nathan. It means a lot."
"Brooke…uhh… do you know Haley James?" He blurted. Rachel's pact with him hadn't escaped his mind, resulting in it plaguing him ever since yesterday night. He had finally found an outlet to commence it but wanted to re-check his opportunity. The thought made him shudder in disgust – but when it came down to his dreams, he couldn't harm his chances.
"She is in my Calculus class. Why?"
Aware of the fact that he was going to implement the arrangement he made with Rachel, Nathan weighed the consequences of revealing the same to Brooke. He realized that despite his friendship with Brooke, he couldn't bring about to telling her about the pact.
"I'm failing my English class, and Principal Turner implied that unless I get my grades up, it's the end of basketball for me. I heard that she's a great tutor."
A partial truth – he was doing miserably (not failing, though) English, and Principal Turner did imply the relation between maintaining grades and basketball to every player who was in their senior year.
Nodding slightly, Brooke agreed. "From what I've heard, Haley is a good tutor."
"Yeah." He muttered.
Haley bent down to pull out some files. Her new student was fifteen minutes late, leaving little room left for her patience.
The door opened, alerting her of the presence of, perhaps, her new student. Standing up, she looked to see the new occupant of the room and received a shock she had never expected. Praying frantically that her fears wouldn't come true, she fixed her brown orbs on him. She stared at him silently, before realizing that neither of them had spoken in the past few minutes.
"Can I help you?" She firmly asked, regarding the tension in the room.
Nathan was visibly taken aback by her seriousness – he hadn't expected that. He let his eyes travel over her face, noticing that the stern expression hadn't been erased. Recovering from the falter in his confidence, he handed over a slip to her.
"I sure hope so. You're my tutor."
I would really like to hear about your opinion of this chapter.
